USPCA welcomes new board members and reports major growth in animal welfare services
USPCA Annual Report 2024/25 report highlights:
1,654 wildlife rescues
368 animals rehomed
7,879 pet food parcels
7,842 vet consultations & surgeries
The Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (USPCA) has published its Trustees' Annual Report for 2024/25, showcasing a year of significant achievements in animal welfare across Northern Ireland.
The leading animal welfare charity is also welcoming five new members to its board which includes former Chief of Staff at 10 Downing Street Baroness Sue Gray CBE a distinguished public servant whose career in government has spanned more than four decades.
Other new board members include Brendan Mullan, Fellow of the Institute of Directors; Eamon Mullan, an experienced governance consultant; Dr Pauline Sheenan, a highly experienced medical professional with nearly 35 years in clinical practice and leading community and voluntary consultant Andrew Talbot.
The last financial period was a milestone year of impactful delivery for the USPCA, which involved the charity providing a lifeline to thousands of animals, rehoming 368 companion animals and responding to an unprecedented 1,654 wildlife rescues, marking a 56% increase on the previous year.
The charity also issued 559 veterinary vouchers to ensure timely treatment for injured wildlife and distributed 7,879 pet food parcels through 51 food banks, helping families keep beloved pets during the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. It also delivered 6,781 vet consultations and over 1,000 surgeries.
The USPCA’s Special Investigations Unit, meanwhile, continued its vital work to combat organised animal cruelty through important research, while the charity’s advocacy efforts included campaigning for legislative reform, such as banning hunting with dogs and introducing a register of animal welfare offenders.
Chief Executive Heather Weir, who joined the charity in June 2025, reaffirmed the USPCA’s commitment to expanding services and strengthening partnerships:
“Our mission remains clear – to prevent cruelty, relieve suffering, and advance animal welfare. This year we have made good progress, and this reflects the dedication of our staff, volunteers, and supporters.“I take great pride in working alongside fellow advocates who rescue, treat, and rehabilitate vulnerable animals every day. Seeing the transformation they bring, is inspiring and I’m committed to building on the USPCA’s legacy, ensuring that every animal in need has a voice. I also welcome the appointment of our new board members and know they will bring a wealth of experience and insight as we grow the charity into the future.”
Dr John Farrell, Chair of the USPCA added:
“This year’s achievements reflect the unwavering commitment of our staff, volunteers, and supporters. Together, we have strengthened our voice for animal welfare and delivered life-changing services for thousands of animals. With your continued support, we can build on this success and ensure a brighter future for all animals in Northern Ireland.”
Looking ahead, the USPCA plans to enhance its reach across Northern Ireland, invest in responsive animal welfare services, create effective partnerships and advance campaigning and advocacy work to improve animal welfare legislation in Northern Ireland. To enable future plans, it is developing a robust social enterprise model to secure long-term sustainability and plans to bring in new leadership and fundraising functions as well as improved governance.
“The USPCA’s next phase will be towards sustainable growth as a charity and the development of a long-term strategic plan that shows our deep-rooted commitment towards the eradication of animal suffering and the prevention of animal cruelty,” said Heather Weir.
“We can’t do it alone and this is where the public, enforcement partners, supporting charities and politicians play a key role. Together we can make a positive difference, making Northern Ireland a safer place for animals.”
For more information or to support our work, visit www.uspca.co.uk
ENDS
Notes to Editors
The USPCA’s accounts for the year show it cost over £2 million to run the charity. The accounts show a surplus of over £1 million in 2024/25 financial year with a rise in legacy gifts in wills to £1.9 million.
After meeting running costs resources will be used to manage rising employer costs, fund the delivery of day-to-day activities, invest in animal care environments and workforce development as well as building the USPCA’s social enterprise footprint and boosting reach across NI. Accounts can be accessed here https://uspca.co.uk/about/publications.
For media queries please contact Áine Magee at Connect a.magee@connectpa.co.uk
Biographies of new Board Members
Brendan Mullan
Brendan Mullan has extensive senior management experience in the voluntary, public and private sectors, successfully leading organisations at Managing Director and Chief Executive level, including 7 years as Chief Executive of the USPCA.He is a Fellow of the Institute of Directors and a Chartered Director. His academic background also includes a degree in business administration and accountancy from Queen’s University Belfast, an Irish Peace Institute Management Fellowship, and a German Marshall Fellowship to the USA. He is a previous winner of Institute of Directors’ Northern Ireland Non-Executive Director of the Year award and was recognised at the UK Director of the Year Awards for Excellence in Corporate Governance.
Eamon Mullan
Eamon Mullan is an experienced governance consultant and practitioner, having held leadership and management positions with a number of organisations in a career spanning over 35 years. Throughout his career he has been committed to the improvement of governance in the public, private and third sectors. He has been instrumental in instilling better and more robust governance in the organisations that he has worked with or been associated with. Among other effectiveness reviews he led a reform of the governance arrangements at the University of Ulster. He had previously facilitated the establishment of the NI Legal Services Commission overseeing the appointment of the board and creating the policy framework, committee structures and terms of reference for committees. Eamon now operates as a freelance governance consultant, working largely with charities and is also a qualified therapist.
Dr Pauline Sheenan
Dr Pauline Sheenan is a highly experienced medical professional with over 34 years in clinical practice. After qualifying in Medicine (MB ChB) in 1990, she completed extensive postgraduate training across a range of specialisms. She has also achieved multiple postgraduate qualifications, including diplomas in Child Health, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Family Planning, and Palliative Medicine, as well as Membership of the Royal College of
General Practitioners (MRCGP). Throughout her career, Dr Sheenan has worked across hospitals and general practice settings in Northern Ireland and England. She served for over a decade as a Medical Officer at St John’s House Hospice in Newry, where she developed a strong commitment to palliative care and community health. From 2012 to 2023, she was a GP at Cornmarket Surgery, and she continues to work as a locum GP with the Southern Trust's out-of-hours service.
Baroness Gray of Tottenham, CBE
Sue Gray, Baroness Gray of Tottenham, CBE, is a distinguished public servant whose career in government has spanned more than four decades. Known for her integrity, leadership, and dedication to civic life, she has held a series of influential roles across the UK civil service and political advisory landscape. Beginning her career in the UK civil service, Sue worked in several major departments including the Department for Transport and the
Department for Work and Pensions. Her trajectory led her to senior leadership positions such as Second Permanent Secretary in the Cabinet Office and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. She also served as Permanent Secretary in the Department of Finance within the Northern Ireland devolved government.
She was appointed Chief of Staff to Sir Keir Starmer, then Leader of the Labour Party, and subsequently Chief of Staff at 10 Downing Street following the 2024 general election. InFebruary 2025, she was appointed to the House of Lords, recognising her longstanding contribution to public service.
Beyond her professional achievements, Sue has a lifelong passion for animal welfare. From her family’s love of dogs to her fondness for the Downing Street Cat, animals have always played a meaningful role in her life. She recently adopted a stray dog from the USPCA, an experience that deepened her appreciation for the charity’s work and inspired her to become actively involved.
Baroness Gray sought the appropriate advice and received approval from the civil service commission on taking up this appointment with the USPCA.
Andrew Talbot
Andrew is a full-time independent consultant in the voluntary and community sector in Ireland. Andrew spent many years working as a corporate/commercial and charity solicitor in leading Corporate Law firms in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne and Belfast before eventually specialising in his real passion - which is to provide specialist support to the voluntary and community and social enterprise sector in Ireland. He was admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Northern Ireland, 2002 and is a member of the Law Society of Northern Ireland. Andrew is an energetic and strategic Trustee, who has 13 years supporting charities in Northern Ireland including NOW Group and the NI Hospice. Andrew brings a wealth of expertise including, merger facilitation, governance reviews and support, Board evaluations, strategic planning, reviews of legal structures and re-structuring support and many other leadership skills.
